"You know, the man of my dreams might walk 'round the corner tomorrow. I'm older and wiser and I think I'd make a great girlfriend. I live in the realm of romantic possibility."
Stevie Nicks
Anxiety is a hot topic now and that is a wonderful conversation to have open. However, talking about anxiety and living with it are two different worlds.
As a young woman, I am constantly being thrown the images of being in a relationship, whether it's a casual hook-up or a long-standing connection with the person you can see yourself spending the rest of your life with. Dating in the 21st century is challenging in many ways for someone with social anxiety. All the apps, finding the perfect selfie lighting and making sure you say the right thing without looking too overly invested.
When it finally comes down to the time when you go to meet and get to know the stranger that you have connected with through fire selfies and sarcastic remarks, there is always this voice in the back of your head like "Am I saying the right things? Will they like me enough for the second date? Am I good enough for a relationship?"
The world that we live in puts so much pressure on men and women to criticize themselves to make them pleasing to others which causes internal turmoil.
I personally have many struggles with relationships partially because of my eating disorder in not wanting to let anyone get close but craving that emotional connection. Seeing the majority of my friends have blossoming relationships makes me giddy yet hesitant because I am terrified of losing friends. I'm terrified of being alone as well as terrified of starting something new.
Sometimes new flings are not bad but struggling with the methods of achieving the final goal of relationship or a connection on the intimate level of some sort is overwhelming at times. On the contrary pushing yourself out of your comfort zone is the only way to do anything now, so why not go out there and be awkward and embrace it. In the end, there is only one you so be the best you that can be.
